On March 26, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a national organization of scientists and engineers, announced that it elected biology professor Magdalena Bezanilla to be an AAAS fellow. The designation honors scientists whose efforts have “distinguished them among their peers and colleagues.” Bezanilla is one of 449 scientists nationwide honored with the fellowship this year.
Bezanilla’s research centers around cell shape determination, particularly in plant cells, which has potential applications in biofuel production and climate resilience. The Dartmouth spoke with her about the fellowship, her research and her advice for students interested in scientific fields.
When did you learn you were elected to be an AAAS fellow? How did you feel?
MB: I was excited. I’ve actually known about this for a really long time because I found out back in November, but I’ve had to keep it a secret until they released it. I was really truly excited and moved. The person who nominated me is in my field, and it’s just an honor to have them have them think that I belong there.
Could you describe your research on plant cell growth?
MB: I’m really interested in understanding how cells shape their extracellular environment. Plants are surrounded by a cell wall that dictates the shape of the cell, but also the shape of the whole plant. It’s a great model to study, but in fact, it’s a really basic biological question: How can these individual little units control what a whole organism looks like? It’s a big mystery.
Do you see your research as having industrial applications?
MB: Understanding how the cell wall is made will impact whether we can grow plants for biofuels and whether we can make enough plant material in a small enough space such that it becomes a viable alternative fuel. But I don’t think I’m going to be patenting anything in the near future.
What drew you to biology, and botany specifically, in the first place?
MB: I had a very roundabout path. I actually have no training in plant biology. I was a physics major as an undergraduate. Then I switched gears, and I really thought I was going to be a biophysicist. As an undergraduate, I was doing research in a lab where I was using atomic force microscopy to image DNA molecules. I thought this marriage of physics and biology seemed like a really wonderful place to be.
Then, I joined this graduate program and ended up doing something completely different — cell biology. I was working mostly on human and animal cells. Again, I switched gears after my Ph.D., and that’s when I decided I really wanted to work on plants.
What tips would you give to students who may be interested in doing their own scientific research?
MB: Some students have a predisposition to think “I need to get to point X,” and that you need to take a linear trajectory to that. Some students will say “I want to be an immunologist, so I must be in an immunology lab.” But my advice is to join a lab where you’re going to be mentored or have good colleagues, and where you’re going to learn how to think and ask the right questions. Ultimately, that’s more important than what you’re actually studying.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Jeremiah Rayban is a reporter and editor for The Dartmouth from Wilmington, Del., majoring in economics. Outside of The D, he enjoys reading, art and trivia.
